| No mention of Tipaimukh issue in Dhaka-Delhi talks Bangladesh and India agreed to resolve the longstanding issues of demarcation of their boundary, including the exchange of enclaves and adverse possessions, in a single package. The two sides also talked the contentions over delimitation of maritime boundary and agreed that "the issue should be settled to mutual satisfaction through negotiations". The agreement came as Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna held wide-ranging talks on all the burning bilateral issues in New Delhi Tuesday to update the ties between the two neighbours. Officials from the Indian capital told UNB that the talks, held at Hyderabad House, lasted over two hours from 11 am (IST) covering entire gamut of bilateral relations, including sharing the waters of common rivers, commercial and economic issues, security and border issues, people-to-people contact. Increased connectivity in the region, particularly involving India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, figured prominently in discussion, Foreign Ministry sources in Dhaka said. The issues of cooperation in power sector, including the import of power from India to Bangladesh, and Indian assistance for upgrading railway sector and procurement of locomotives, passenger coaches and buses with Indian assistance, also came up for discussion. The possibility of Indian assistance for capital dredging of ports and rivers in Bangladesh was also raised, in which the Indian side expressed positive interest. Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni requested her Indian counterpart to allow greater market access of Bangladeshi products to the Indian market by offering greater duty-free access and also removal of non-tariff and para-tariff barriers. The meeting agreed to upgrade the infrastructures of the Land Customs Stations on both sides of the border for greater facilitation of trade. Both sides also discussed the possibility of easing the visa procedure, particularly for businessmen, patients, students and government officials. The possibility of opening border haats for the benefit of the people in the border areas and transportation of equipment for a power plant in Tripura through Ashuganj were also discussed at the meeting. "The two sides agreed that all issues would be addressed taking into consideration the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries and for their mutual benefit," said a message received here. Dr Dipu Moni invited SM Krishna to visit Bangladesh at his earliest convenience. The Indian Minister accepted the invitation with pleasure. Before the delegation-level meeting, Dipu Moni and Krishna had one-to-one talk in a 10-minute lead-in. Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes, Bangladesh High Commissioner Tarique Ahmed Karim and DG (South Asia) Mohammad Imran were present from Bangladesh side while Indian External Affairs Secretary Nirupoma Rao was present on the host side. Later in the day, Dr Dipu Moni called on Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and had a meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. She is also scheduled to meet some other Ministers and dignitaries during her stay in New Delhi. http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm |
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